When Nigeria’s foremost film production company, Inkblot Productions, first announced its collaboration with the renowned, award-winning director, Biodun Stephen, to write and direct its new title, Big Love, one of its four films slated for theatrical release in 2023, Nollywood and its teeming audience waited with bated breath to see the result.
It’s been four months since that title premiered, and Nigerians still can’t get enough of it. It is even being tagged as the biggest love story out of Nollywood in 2023.
And that’s not far-fetched.
After dominating Nigerian cinemas for several months, ranking first in Nollywood upon its first release in June, Big Love has now surged to the top of the log on international streaming platform Amazon Prime, cementing further its place as one of the most successful movies out of Nigeria in 2023.
A heartwarming family romantic comedy, Big Love takes audiences on a captivating journey of laughter, tears, and renewed love. The film revolves around Adil and Adina, two ambitious young individuals who experience an intense and passionate love story after crossing paths at a graduate training camp. However, their relationship is tested when a secret emerges, threatening to shatter everything they hold dear, including their families. Big Love beautifully explores the profound power of love and family bonds and showcases the extraordinary lengths we are willing to go to protect them.
AMVCA award-winning stars Timini Egbuson (Best Actor in a Drama, 2020) and Bimbo Ademoye (Best Actress in a Comedy/TV series, 2023) played the lead characters Adil and Adina respectively. The equally impressive supporting cast includes Shaffy Bello, Jaye Kuti, Seyi Awolowo, Teniola Aladese, Kalu Ikeagwu, Deza The Great, Jedediah, and many others. The film was shot in Lagos, Nigeria, at important locations, with the support of Sterling Bank, who provided the Sterling Training School premises as one of the key settings for the film.
Expressing her enthusiasm, Zulumoke Oyibo, co-founder and producer at Inkblot Productions, said: “The film is a testament to our passion for storytelling. We wanted to create a film that would resonate with families, couples, and individuals alike, and we believe we have achieved that with this movie. Stephen has delivered an outstanding directorial masterpiece, and we’re glad for how it has been accepted.”
“This film exemplifies our shared commitment to crafting exceptional narratives that touch the hearts of audiences from all walks of life. I am immensely proud to have been a part of bringing the film to life, working alongside an extraordinary cast and crew. Together, we have created something truly remarkable,” said Stephen who has garnered widespread acclaim throughout her career, including the prestigious Best Director award at the 2020 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
Going by its reception, Big Love represents the perfect start to the collaboration between Inkblot Productions and Stephen’s Shutterspeed, and it has lived up to the lofty standards with which the production outfit has become synonymous. Responsible for premium and entertaining films like Netflix’s Far from Home, The Wedding Party series, The New Money Series, Superstar, Blood Covenant, Palava, The Set Up, Up North, and current cinema wave maker, A Weekend to Forget, Inkblot Productions have contributed some of the most successful titles to Nollywood over the past decade.
That’s why the news of another collaboration between Inkblot and Stephen is welcoming and exciting. While the production is still in its development stages, we can confirm it will be a crime story titled Muri + Ko, and Nollywood enthusiasts can look forward to another incredible experience from arguably the most promising partnership in the industry today.
Undoubtedly, Inkblot Productions has become a powerhouse in Nigeria’s movie industry. Going by its lineup of releases and their performances in the market, the production outfit has cracked the code for connecting with the Nigerian audience. And, for now, there’s no reason to think it won’t keep growing stronger.
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